Exploring the Path - Pāli Course

3.7.12 Eight Virtues Extolled that Qualify a Follower of the Path¹

 

“If a well-trained excellent horse possesses eight attributes, Bhikkhus, these make it worthy of a king, a garnish of a king and it is understood as a decoration of the kingship. What are these eight?

Here, Bhikkhus, such a well-trained excellent horse is well born from both sides – maternal and parental. It gets birth in a region where all the other well-trained thoroughbred horses are born.

Whatever food they give him, moist or dry, it eats and enjoys it with respect and without scattering it about.

It gets repelled if it was to sit or recline near excrements or urine.

It is pleasant and easy to live with and does not agitate other horses.

Whatever tricks, frauds, crookedness or cunningness it may possess it will convey all as they do exist to its trainer. As a result of this the trainer is able to attempt quashing them.

It carries whatever it is supposed to carry with a determined mind: “Independent if other horses carry it or not - I myself will carry it!”

When moving, it walks only along a straight path.

Resolute in itself, it exhibits this strength to the end of its life.

If a well-trained excellent horse possesses these eight attributes, Bhikkhus, then it is it worthy of a king, a garnish of a king and it is understood as a decoration of the kingship.

In the same way, Bhikkhus, if a Bhikkhu possesses the following eight attributes, they will make him worthy of gifts, worthy of hospitality, worthy of offerings and of reverent salutation; they make him an incomparable field of merit for the world.

Now, what are these eight?

He is perfect in upholding sīla.

He dwells with restraint and lives according to the precepts, his conduct and his resort are perfectly in line with these and he sees danger in minute faults.

He follows the training rules he has undertaken exactly and trains in them.

Whatever food is given to him coarse or sweet, he eats and enjoys it with respect and without getting annoyed about it.

He gets repelled by all evil physical, verbal or mental and likewise gets repelled by the acquisition of any of the many other unwholesome facets that may befall one.

He is pleasant and easy to live with and does not agitate other monks.

Whatever tricks, frauds, crookedness or cunningness he may possess he will reveal them as they do exist to his Teacher or his wise fellow monks. As a result of this his Teacher or his wise fellow monks are able to attempt quashing them out.

He trains himself in whatever training he has undertaken with a determined mind: “Independent if other monks train themselves or not, I will train myself!”

When moving, he walks only along a straight path, which is: Right view, right thought, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right awareness and right concentration.

Resolute he exhibits this strength with determination: “May my skin and sinews, my bones remain and the flesh and blood of my body dry up but let my efforts be maintained until I have attained what is attainable by resolution, energy and all the exertion of a man.”

If a Bhikkhu possesses these eight attributes, they will make him worthy of gifts, worthy of hospitality, worthy of offerings and of reverent salutation; they make him an incomparable field of merit for the world.”

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